Police can't be 'brute' in 21st century, will have to be 'civilised': Rajnath

Merrut, Oct 7 (IANS) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday that police cannot be a “brute force” in 21st century and it will have to work like a “civilised force”.

The Home Minister also asked the forces to use less lethal ways to control mob and law and order situations and urged them to adopt technological and psychological solutions to deal with such circumstances.

“Rapid Action Force in a very short span of time has emerged as an exemplary focrce for the state police. In 21st century, police can’t be brute but it will have to be civilised,” he said on silver jubilee celebration of Rapid Action Force here.

Rajnath Singh said that he feels proud to see RAF personnel working as a responsible and alert force.

“Be it police or any law enforcing agency, they should act sensibly and patiently while dealing with even tough and challenging situations. But sometimes they need to act tough to deal with the situation. In such circumstances, they should use their discretion before taking tough measures. They should use less lethal measures,” he said.

“To control the situation, the security forces should not only be dependent on use of force. It’s an age of technology and it should be used. There can be even psychological ways to control the mob or to divert it. I hope the senior officials of our forces would consider to adopt these ways,” he said.

On the ocassion, Rajnath Singh announced raising of five more battalions of the RAF which will also be operationalised by January 2018. The RAF, a specialized force has presently ten battalions working in various parts of the country to deal with riots and riot like situations, to instill confidence amongst all sections of the society and also, handle internal security duty.